1. What types of volunteering opportunities are available in the fire and emergency services?

The emergency services in Western Australia are referred to either as a fire brigade, volunteer marine rescue group, or a state emergency service or fire and emergency services unit. Below you can click on the links to each volunteer service to find out details about their work:

Emergency volunteer services are spread across more than 800 locations throughout Western Australia and in order to respond rapidly, you need to live reasonably close to your local service. Some specific volunteer roles are not linked to emergency response and do not require a minimum arrival time.

2. What roles and activities can I do as an emergency services volunteer?

There are numerous roles you can undertake as a volunteer in an emergency service. It will depend on which service you join and what volunteer roles are available at that particular location but generally these are the activities a volunteer can do. Click here for more information about Roles and Descriptions:

3. Can I be a volunteer firefighter if I live in the Perth Metropolitan area?

Several volunteer fire related services (volunteer fire and rescue brigades or bushfire brigades) are located on the fringes of the Perth metropolitan area. For example, there are fire brigades at Wanneroo, Joondalup and Yanchep in the north; Cockburn, Rockingham and Armadale to the south and Kalamunda, Mundaring and Roleystone to the east. The Perth metropolitan area is managed primarily by full time paid firefighters.

The State Emergency Service and Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services have units in the metropolitan area such as Stirling (Nollamara), Northshore (Leederville), Melville, Cockburn, Belmont, Bayswater and Bullsbrook, while the Marine Rescue Services Groups are located at Fremantle, Two Rocks, Rockingham and Mandurah.

Emergency services volunteering has a role for everyone. The minimum joining age varies slightly between services but generally age 16 to 17 years is the minimum joining age (with appropriate parental/guardian consent) and in some areas junior and cadet training programs are offered to young people aged 11 to 15 years.

To find out which volunteer Brigades, Groups and Units are located in your area please click on the emergency services links at question 4 above.

Contact details are displayed for each service so that you can make direct contact with them. Please note that many of the telephone numbers are located at volunteer sites which are not occupied every day. Leave a message and allow at least a few days or more before expecting a response. This will be dependent on the level of activity around the volunteer service at a specific time.

7. How long will it take before I can attend an emergency incident as a volunteer firefighter, marine rescue crew member or state emergency service rescue volunteer?

On average it takes at least three months to complete the training required to enter a fire ground, crew a rescue vessel or be part of the front line operation of a rescue/support team. Your safety and the safety of other volunteers is paramount so the right training is vital. Not all volunteer roles require the same level of training so a new volunteer member may be able to take on support activities initially. Not all volunteer members choose to take on front line tasks. You can discuss your preferences with the officer in charge.

8. What are the health and fitness levels required to be an emergency services volunteer?

There are no specific requirements but depending on the volunteer role you choose, there may be a need for someone with a specific medical condition to undergo a medical examination in order for a doctor to certify what role(s) are appropriate for that individual and identify any volunteer roles which need to be avoided. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for active frontline response roles.

9. What time commitments are expected from emergency services volunteers?

Volunteers generally train for 2-3 hours on a weekly or fortnightly basis. This varies between services with some meeting on a weekday evening and others may train on a Sunday morning. Volunteers who are employed in jobs involving shift work or fly in/ fly out arrangements can negotiate their volunteer training and incident response hours with the officer in charge. Similarly, volunteers with family or other regular commitments may only be available during certain hours of each day (eg parents with children at school who are available to volunteer between the hours of 9-3 daily while children are at school or in day care etc).

10. Do new volunteers require special skills/qualifications before joining?

Prospective new volunteers are required to undergo a Criminal History Check prior to commencement. This is arranged by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) at no cost to the volunteer. Some volunteers also require a Working with Children’s Check if their DFES volunteer role involves “child related work”. The Department or relevant local government will cover the cost of that process if required.

All training for emergency services volunteers is provided by the Department or relevant Local Government at no cost to the volunteer members.

No direct costs are incurred by individuals apart from the gift of your valuable time. (Some indirect costs such as phone calls, commuting to the brigade, group or unit for training and meetings may be experienced). Uniforms and safety gear are supplied by the Department.

The State Government has implemented a fuel card scheme to help mitigate the overall incidental costs to brigade, unit and group volunteer members.

Emergency services volunteers are offered a range of training to meet the needs of the volunteer role they choose. This includes first aid, firefighting, driver training, sea and land search and rescue, boat handling, road crash rescue, communications and radio operations, map reading and navigation, supervision, management-leadership skills and so on. Many of these skills are highly valued by employers for use in outside employment, away from volunteering.

In addition to new qualifications, volunteers enjoy the experience of making new friends, assisting their local community, gaining new skills and developing their own personal capabilities.

14. If there is a current incident, can I volunteer to help immediately?

In the interests of safety, DFES does not send new volunteers straight to an emergency incident. There is a formal registration, induction and training process to ensure emergency services volunteers are ready to attend. Responding to a bushfire, cyclone, storm or flood can be very dangerous and volunteers are only deployed after they have completed the training and other safety requirements.

However your help could be used during the recovery phase. See the section about “volunteering during an incident” above.

15. If I am already an emergency services volunteer in WA, in another State or from overseas, can I go and join the emergency response as I am already trained?

DFES does not send individual volunteers to an emergency incident. During a major incident when extra assistance is needed the Department will seek additional support through pre-planned agreements and processes with brigades, groups and units. You can register your willingness to attend via your local brigade, group or unit.

17. I am visiting Australia on a travel visa/ student visa etc, can I join up as an emergency services volunteer?

You are welcome to join us but there are some conditions and considerations:

You will need to confirm with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection that your visa allows you to volunteer in Australia. Generally if your visa conditions allow you to work in Australia they will usually allow you to volunteer.

Your volunteer membership will need to take into account your location, duration of your stay and the volunteer role you choose. Given that some of the training can take three months to complete your prospective volunteer leader will discuss options with you.